A VAUXHALL car showroom in Aberdeen might not be the most obvious of places to start an international managerial career. But for Gordon Strachan it was as good a place as any.

It’s a fresh start for Scotland but for the new man in charge it was like going full circle.

Back in Aberdeen, where he was kingpin in a Alex Ferguson’s trophy-laden Dons side. Back in Aberdeen, where so many of his Scotland journey’s started – or almost didn’t get started due to a dodgy motor.

While he’s hoping to get out of first gear against Estonia on Wednesday, it didn’t always happen in his early days in the Granite City.

The shiny new car showroom was light years away from the old days at Pittodrie, when he used to set off to join up with the Scotland squad keeping his fingers crossed he would even make it out of town.

Strachan said: “My first car was an old Vauxhall Viva. I used to pray it wouldn’t rain, because it would break down and I’d miss training.”

There’s no need to worry on the transport front these days. Instead, Strachan’s job is to perform an emergency repair job on the national team after their World Cup bid spluttered to a halt under Craig Levein before being abandoned on bricks on the hard shoulder.

It will take a miracle rather than a mechanic to us on the road to Brazil but Strach is looking forward to looking under the hood when the squad assembles on Monday. His appointment has galvanised the demoralised Tartan Army. It’s also got the man himself worked up.

When Strachan spoke of his excitement for the job, you waited for the usual acerbic punch-line. The neat, self-deprecating gag, which often wasn’t too far from the truth.

But it never came. Strach said he was excited, and he means it. He may have a few miles on the clock but make no mistake, he’s up for it.

When he unveiled his squad yesterday there was certainly a spring in his step. Memories came flooding back on the road in the Aberdeen and he even managed to pop round to his sister Laura’s for a cup of tea.

Everywhere he went he was greeted like a returning hero. The only thing missing was a red carpet on the way in.

He said: “It is nice to be back in this area as there are a lot of friendly faces. I’d be that excited making my debut as the Scotland manager anywhere.

“But it would be foolish to say it would be the same anywhere.

“It just adds to the fact that I can have people that I have known for years along to the game as well.”

That’s where the warm welcome ended though as even the brutal North East weather was just the way he remembered it.

A lot may have changed in his old outpost but the howling wind whipping off the North Sea is exactly the same. Talk about getting blown away by the reception.

Having one of its favourite sons back as Scots boss has certainly captured the city’s imagination.

Fans are snapping up tickets at an impressive rate.

The Tartan Army has been won over. Now it’s time to see if Strachan can get this show back on the road.